Kara Alaimo, Ph.D. is a communication professor, writer, and speaker. A former communicator in the Obama administration and the United Nations, she is now an Associate Professor of Communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University. She writes frequently about women and social media for CNN Opinion. Her next book, “Over the Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and Girls — And How We Can Reclaim It” will be published by Alcove Press in 2024. (Sign up for email updates on the Contact page of this website if you want to be notified when it’s published). She is also author of Pitch, Tweet, or Engage on the Street: How to Practice Global Public Relations and Strategic Communication.

From 2012-2013, Dr. Alaimo served as Head of Communications for the United Nations Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, a group of heads of state and other eminent thinkers convened to recommend the world’s next plan for eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development. In 2011, she was appointed by President Obama as Spokesperson for International Affairs in the U.S. Treasury Department, where she communicated global economic diplomacy initiatives, including America’s bilateral economic relationships; engagement in multilateral institutions including the G-20, World Bank, and IMF; and international monetary, trade, development, environmental, and energy policy. In this capacity, she also served as media adviser to Jim Yong Kim during his successful 2012 campaign for the World Bank Presidency.

She also previously served as the first Press Secretary of the Peter G. Peterson Foundation, Global Media Coordinator for the United Nations Millennium Campaign, and as a spokesperson for New York City economic development initiatives during the administration of Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

Dr. Alaimo earned her Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Philosophy, and Masters of Arts degrees at the City University of New York, and her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism with a minor in Women’s Studies at N.Y.U.

Her academic research on social media and international and political/advocacy communication has been published in academic journals including the International Journal of Communication, Journal of Communication Management, Journal of Public Affairs, Case Studies in Strategic Communication, and Social Media & Society.

She now consults on global communication campaigns for clients including the United Nations and conducts customized employee training programs for companies.